Termite shield



A. c. s'roNE 2,092,659

TERMITE SHIELD Sept. '7, 1937.

F11-ed Aug. 2o, 1936 12E'. EJ.. 6

Albe!! 'lone INVENTGR.

Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES TERMITE SHIELD Albert C. Stone, Dallas, Tex.

Application August 20,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to termite shields and it has particular reference to shields of this character for protecting buildings against ingress of these destructive insects.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an effective means for excluding termites or white ants from the woodwork of buildings, par, ticularly those supported on concrete foundations by the simple expedient of arranging the shield on the foundation at a point thereon intermediate the ground and basal woodwork.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shield whose peculiar shape alone is an effective retardant of insects but the invention includes also a supplementary means in the form of an asphaltic or other composition having a repulsive effect upon the insects and which composition is applied to a portion of the shield provided therefor and maintains its effectiveness over an indefinite period of time.

Specically, the invention provides a means for preventing insect infestation in buildings which have already been constructed' and requires no alterations in the building itself to install. The shield is inexpensive but highly effective and requires no attention subsequent to installation.

With the foregoing objects as paramount the invention has other and lesser objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a conventional type of building foundation, showing the invention installed and Figure 2 is a detail View of the invention in perspective, with the insect repelling composition deleted.

Continuing with a more detailed description ofthe drawing, I, designates a concrete foundation of conventional construction which. supports the beams, 2, the latter in turn carrying the floor joists, 3. The joists and beams are often attacked by termites (white ants).

As is commonly known, these timbers are frequently reduced to a mere shell by the insects before their presence in the building is detected. 'I'he insects usually appear in colonies beneath a building and proceed to the Woodwork of the building, upo'n which they subsist, by tunneling through the earth, ascending the concrete foundation and attacking the woodwork Where it is unprotected, ultimately weakening it until it is in condition for collapse.

The present invention is of course effective only in protecting buildings having a foundation of a material other than that likely to be attacked by the insects. It is comprised of a strip of material, 4, such as galvanized iron or the like, having an upper flange, 5, at right angles to the strip 1936, Serial No. 96,944

(Cl. 'I2-4.5)

and a lower flange or skirt, 6 at an acute angle relative to the plane of the flange 5. 'I'hls skirt is an important element vof the strip inasmuch as experiments have definitely proven the inability of the insects to traverse an obstacle disposed on 5 a plane such as that of the skirt 6.

'I'he strip 4 of\the invention is fixed to the foundation I by means of threaded bolts 1, passing through apertures 8 in the strip,fthence into dowels 9, embedded in holes made in the concrete, 10 as shown. When thus secured, the shield is held against any possible displacement.

The upper right angle flange 5 affords a shelf or support for a composition I0, having an asphalt base, the asphalt having been found to be a repellant for termites. This composition continues the full length of the shield the latter extending entirely around the supporting structure of the building. v

Accordingly, colonies of termites, seeking to gain access to the upper structure of a building equipped with the invention, will first endeavor to scale the vertical wall of the foundation and will encounter the asphaltic seal I0 which bridges any openings between the'shield and wall. Being 25 thus retarded, they will attempt to negotiate the angular skirt 6 which is impossible for them to do. Accordingly, the termites are permanently prevented from reaching any vulnerable part of the structure.

The exterior face of the structure is usually impregnable, being surfaced with brick Il. It is not yimpractical however, in event of exterior attack, to provide an exterior shield, not unlike that just described.

Manifestly, the construction shown and described is capable of considerable modification and such modication as may be considered within the scope and meaning of the appended claims, is also considered within the spirit and intent of f 40 the invention.

What is claimed iszl As a new article of manufacture, a repellant for termites and other insects comprising the combination with a concrete building foundation Iof a metallic strip as a body portion for said repellant, arranged for securement to the face of said foundation intermediate its base and super-structure and throughout its length, said body portion having an upper ange at substantially right angles to the plane of said body portion and the face of the foundation to which I the latter is secured whereby t form a shelf for retaining a solid insecticide composition, said body portion also having a flange on its lower edge disposed at an obtuse angle relative to the plane of said body portion and means for ailixing said body portion to said foundation.

' ALBERT C. STONE. 

